All Right Hamilton!

Fast Times Anniversary -

August 13th, 2009

Twenty-seven years ago today, the cinematic masterwork Fast Times at Ridgemont High was released. Originally met with mixed reviews and shrugs from its own studio, the movie became an instant classic with audiences, inspiring landlocked Midwestern kids to wear Hawaiian shirts, talk like stoned surfers, and ask girls if they could watch them eat a carrot. Expertly fusing ’80s pop culture with a variety of identifiable characters in outrageous yet familiar situations, the movie not only entertained but had legit street cred. Fast Times made working in the mall look cool, made ticket-scalping seem like a viable career option and, most importantly, taught teenage boys to ALWAYS lock the door before “painting the ceiling.”

Fast Times was actress and model Lana Clarkson’s first movie. She played the gorgeous wife of creepy biology teacher Mr. Vargas. In 2004, she was found dead in record producer Phil Spector’s home. He would later be convicted of her murder in 2009.

Esteemed Alumni

Sean Penn

Jeff Spicoli

Two-time Academy Award winner (Mystic River, Milk)

Nicolas Cage

Brad’s bud

Academy Award winner (Leaving Las Vegas)

Forrest Whitaker

Charles Jefferson

Academy Award winner (The Last King of Scotland)

Cameron Crowe

Screenwriter

Academy Award winner (Almost Famous)

Judge Reinhold

Brad Hamilton

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Good movies entertain. Great movies, you quote. But the classics… the classics you own on Blu-ray.